Eagles keeping Vick for now, but not Bell

Michael Vick still hasn't been written out of the Philadelphia Eagles' plans for 2013. Demetress Bell, on the other hand, was written out long ago.

His release on Wednesday made it official on a day when the Eagles also signed defensive-end/linebacker Chris McCoy of the Canadian Football League.

Vick, who has been the team's starting quarterback for the last two seasons, has a roster bonus in his contract that makes $3 million of his $16.5 million salary guaranteed if he's still on the roster on Feb. 6. But there is another clause in the same agreement which requires the team only to make up the difference if Vick is released next month and signs elsewhere for less than $3 million.

Vick almost certainly would get at least twice that amount, even as a backup. Two seasons ago, the Eagles gave $5 million to Vince Young to back up Vick for one season.

Bell was signed last year as a presumed replacement for injured left tackle Jason Peters, whose recovery from a torn Achilles tendon kept him sidelined for the entire 2012 season. But he wasn't able to keep the starting job and also had an $8.5 million roster bonus coming if the team hadn't released him.

Vick's contract essentially buys extra time for new coach Chip Kelly to assess the position and how he wants to set up his offense.

Besides Vick, the Eagles have quarterbacks Nick Foles and Trent Edwards under contract. They also reportedly are close to signing free agent quarterback Dennis Dixon, who most recently was on the Baltimore Ravens' practice squad and gave their defense an effective simulation of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick on the scout team leading up to the Super Bowl.

Dixon played for Oregon when Kelly was the offensive coordinator there and obviously has a good relationship with the coach, not to mention a thorough understanding of his offense.

Although Vick and Kelly each came away from a recent meeting feeling positive about the results, Vick still likely will not be back unless he agrees to a pay cut. Even then, he might not factor into Kelly's plans.

Bringing in Nixon to start or even to challenge for a starting job might be hard to sell to the fans, but it would give the team at least one quarterback who is synchronized with Kelly's offensive mind and playcalling.

The addition of McCoy does little to indicate which way Kelly is leaning on defense. He has not hired a defensive coordinator or announced what kind front his defense will employ.

If he does switch to a 3-4 base, as expected, McCoy likely fits in as an outside linebacker, along with current ends Brandon Graham, Trent Cole and Vinny Curry. If he stays with a 4-3, those players will be ends.

As far as the defensive coordinator search goes, Kelly might have hit a snag.

The New Orleans Saints confirmed on Wednesday that they were denied permission to interview 49ers secondary coach Ed Donatell for their open defensive coordinator job. Donatell, of course, reportedly has been linked to the Eagles' opening as well.

Meanwhile, University of Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, didn't reveal anything when asked again on Wednesday about jumping back to the NFL.